Isolation and Molecular Characterization of a Variant Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt During 2016

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a major disease affecting chickens all over the world. The present study was designed for isolation and molecular characterization of IB viruses circulating among different regions in Kafrelsheikh province, Egypt. Twenty two field samples were collected from broiler chicken flocks. The collected samples were propagated in the allantoic cavity of embryonated chicken eggs. The isolated strains were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) through amplification of S1gene followed by sequence analysis of one isolate. Egg inoculation revealed dwarfing with characteristic curling appearance. PCR assay shows 10 positive field samples and phylogenetic analysis revealed the closest relationship with the Israel variant strain IS/1494/06.